Page 45 of Enchantment of Silver and Sea
I forced my face to remain impassive.
She stood then. She was already on the taller side, like Nya, but in this moment, she somehow seemed even taller. “You might get confronted while you’re at camp, too,” she warned. “But just let it roll off your back. The thing is, Kieran gets bored quickly, but he’s also worth the trouble. I mean, look at him. Right? And he’s a great lay.”
I swallowed. Xiomara’s blows were landing just the way she wanted, and we both knew it. I wanted to say something back, but I wasn’t used to this. This verbal sparring. Cutting someone down with a smile plastered on my face.
“If you decide to take it to the next level with him while you’re here, just let me know. I might be willing to share a few secrets on what really gets him going.” She sighed wistfully, as if reflecting on fond memories. “And remember what I said. Don’t get too attached, and enjoy the ride.”
With a wink and a wave, she sauntered out to join the rest of the group.
It was time.
Shimmering gold filtered through the trees behind us, while the sky above the ocean was a muted blue. Soon, the sun would meet the horizon.
But not before the Strangers confronted the Leviathan.
When we had first arrived at the beach, Cecil had promised the group a second run-through of the plan. But he covered it a third and even a fourth time before everyone readied themselves and moved into position. And he did it all in front of me, which I guess was to be expected. But it was nice, being included. Being treated as someone they could trust.
The Strangers waded out until the water was chest-deep, forming a line that ran parallel to the beach. All of them were standing tall, shoulders braced.
What would they have done if the water was rough today? If the waves were crashing against them, threatening to knock them off their feet?
As soon as the question formed in mind, I already knew the answer. They would have done the same thing they were doing now. Because they didn’t have a choice.
Just like with the marsh wolves and the cave devils, there was a goal for this venture beyond just capturing or outsmarting a terrifying beast.
The marsh wolves had provided the Strangers with pelts that were not only waterproof, but that were imbued with magic that gave them enhanced strength, speed, and endurance while swimming. Each member of the group had donned one of the slick, gray-brown, wet suit-like outfits.
The cave devils had, of course, provided the Strangers with an abundance of weapons. It was decided that spears were the best fit for this particular quest, but Nya mentioned that there were a variety of other weapons back at camp.
Then there was the Leviathan. Once defeated, its enormous scales—each one was nearly as tall as Cecil—would act as shields. Whether it was during a conflict with a predator, arranged in a wall formation around the camp, or something else, the uses for the impenetrable barriers were endless.
That is, if the Strangers made it out of this alive.
The plan, informed by my research, was to wrench the spears up and under those scales to pierce the tender flesh beneath. An action that was far from intuitive, according to the fishermen who once confronted the Leviathan several decades prior. Their captain noted that the scales gave the appearance of stiff, immovable armor covering the surface of the sea monster’s body. It was only up close, fighting for their lives, that his crew found where the scales flared slightly, like feathers on a bird, creating inconspicuous openings between them.
Even with that discovery, everyone except the captain and one other man were slaughtered and swallowed whole. If the Strangers couldn’t find an opening to land a blow, the same fate probably awaited them.
Not for the first time, I wished I could do something more useful than standing on the beach. Watching it all play out.
Once everyone was lined up, Kieran stepped forward.
My breath caught in my throat as I waited for what would come next.
Slowly, he extended his javelin, gripping it near the steel head. Then he slid the diamond across his palm.
From where I stood, I couldn’t see the blood. But I cringed.
His hand still extended, Kieran submerged it, letting the blood mingle with the seawater.
There was a chance that it could attract some other carnivorous beast. A shark certainly wasn’t out of the question. But if my research was correct, most creatures in the ocean would steer clear while the Leviathan was nearby.
A few in the group began to shift in the water, full of anticipation.
I could relate. A sickening feeling of dread washed over me, and it took everything in me not to scream at the Strangers to come back to shore. To go out there and drag them all, one by one, back to the beach. I wasn’t strong enough to force any of them to do anything, though.
But suddenly, I desperately wanted to try.
I was walking, then jogging. The waves seemed to be picking up, reaching farther and farther up the beach. I followed their lead, gaining speed until I was at a full sprint. The soles of my feet pounded against the tightly packed sand, still damp from where the tide had been moving out.
